Lalu asks RJD netas to serve poor in pandemic

PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday asked the party MLAs and MLCs to serve the suffering people and create awareness among them about the deadly Covid virus.
During his maiden virtual meeting with the party MLAs, MLCs, unsuccessful contestants of the party in 2020 assembly polls and senior functionaries from New Delhi, Lalu expressed concern over the death of lakhs of people across the country due to the deadly virus.
“There is chaos all around. Lakhs of people have died so far due to Covid-19. It’s your duty as being people’s representatives to serve the poor at the hour of crisis. Do it as much as you can,” RJD spokesperson Mrintunjay Tiwari quoted Lalu as saying.
Lalu connected with the party leaders a bit late due to his poor health, but they kept on waiting as they were eager to listen to him after three and a half years.
“Lalu ji hardly spoke for more than a minute because of his ill-health. But his message was loud and clear. The leaders have been assigned the task to spread the message of Lalu ji among the party workers and guide them accordingly,” Tiwari said.
Lalu promised the leaders to meet them soon. “I am sick. Doctors have advised me not to go outside. But I will see you very soon in Patna,” Lalu told the leaders.
The RJD supremo got disconnected in the middle of the meeting as his oxygen level dipped. “Namaskar. That’s all. I am leaving the meeting with the hope to meet you all very soon,” he told the participants at the virtual meeting.
The meeting started with the address of RJD Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha. The leaders first paid tributes to former RJD MP Md Shahabuddin, who died of Covid on May 1. A two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul. Then leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav addressed the party leaders, who were connected with videoconferencing.
RJD state president Jagadanand earlier clarified that it was not any political meeting, rather it was aimed at seeking guidelines from the party’s national president on how to go among people and help them during the pandemic.
At the beginning of the virtual meeting, Tejashwi had told the leaders that Lalu’s health condition wouldn’t allow to speak more on the issue.
Tiwari, however, claimed that the party workers have virtually got ‘oxygen’ from Lalu ji and will start work in the field with new vigour and enthusiasm.